The transformation that the Montjuïc fairgrounds will undergo due to its centenary will affect one of its tenants, Sónar, which occupies its palaces and the Plaza de l'Univers in June with daytime concerts and talks. As of 2026, the electronic music festival will be held only at the Gran Via fairgrounds, where its night concerts have been located since 2001. "In 2026, we will have a new Sónar and it will be the best possible proposal," said Sónar co-director Ricard Robles, at the presentation of this year's edition program.
It was this Monday when Fira de Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council began to define the construction schedule for the Montjuïc palaces, with a first phase endowed with 290 million to build a new Palau de Congressos, a two-story multifunctional pavilion, and a startup incubator. The works are expected to begin in 2026 and last until 2029, pending the definition of other parts of the renovation project, such as the construction of half a thousand affordable homes and public facilities, and the expansion of the MNAC.
Given the announcement, Sónar announced this Tuesday that they have been working for months with the different institutions involved to reconfigure their programming once again. "We are a mutant festival by nature. We have had to grow, change, and reinvent ourselves, always ensuring that both the artist and the public had the best possible experience," emphasized Robles. For now, its complete transfer within two editions to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat is practically closed. After the works, Robles does not rule out recovering the two venues.
With an eye on the move to the Gran Via venue, Sónar has finished completing the program for this 2024, from June 13 to 15. With more than 200 concerts and DJ sets, some of the big names will be Air, Jessie Ware, Kaytranada, Laurent Garnier, Vince Staples, Charlotte de Witte, Sevdaliza, Folamour, Paul Kalkbrenner, Floating Points, Richie Hawtin, and Kerri Chandler. The flamenco guitarist Yerai Cortés will also stand out.
One more year, the concerts will be accompanied by the talks and conferences of Sónar+D, the congress program that addresses the trends in the sector. The 12th edition of Sónar+D will once again discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry, but will also address the role of platforms and new forms of entertainment with augmented reality and immersive experiences. More than 100 proposals will be exhibited in Montjuïc to showcase specific products and services of these new opportunities.
The electronic music festival is not only characterized by expanding its scope of action but also by crossing the borders of Fira de Barcelona. Sónar Week 2024 will bring its programming to the entire city, with examples such as the AI-generated film festival +RAIN Film Festival, co-organized with Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). Artistic interventions will also take place at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, by oceanographer Joan Llort and artists Entangled Others and Daphne X, and at Casa Batlló, with the music of a festival classic, The Chemical Brothers, invading the Gaudí jewel with an immersive experience.